Dickinson-Iron County Critical Health Indicators


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Stroke Deaths                                                                                           

What Is It?

An artery hemorrhage or blockage in the brain causes a stroke. High blood pressure is the most important risk factor for stroke. Other risk factors include cigarette smoking, physical inactivity, high cholesterol, and obesity.

How are Dickinson and Iron counties doing?

The age-adjusted death rate for stroke was 93.3 (per 100,000 pop.) for Iron and 67.7 for Dickinson for the period 1998 - 2000.



How is the State of Michigan doing?

Stroke is the third leading cause of all deaths in Michigan and the sixth leading cause of Years of Potential Life Lost (YPLL) for people below the age of 75.

In 2000, there were 5,789 deaths due to stroke in Michigan. The age-adjusted death rate for stroke was 60.8 per 100,000 population. The rate of death by stroke has remained relatively stable during the past 10 years.

Stroke Deaths and Death Rates
Michigan Residents, 1989-2000

Single Year
Year All Ages Age Under 50 Age 50 - 74 Age 75 and Older
Number Age-Adjusted
Rate		 Number Age-Specific
Rate		 Number Age-Specific
Rate		 Number Age-Specific
Rate
2000 5,789   60.8 ±1.6   231   3.2 ±6.6   1,273   61.2 ±2.8   4,285   741.2 ±1.5  
1999 6,020   63.2 ±1.6   226   3.1 ±6.7   1,348   64.8 ±2.7   4,446   769.1 ±1.5  
Note: The manner in which underlying cause of death is coded and classified was revised in 1999 to reflect changing medical opinion and practice. The comparability between classification schemes for this particular cause of death is lower (1.06), meaning that caution should be taken in drawing specific inferences from comparisons of mortality statistics over time.

Three-Year Moving Averages
Year All Ages Age Under 50 Age 50 - 74 Age 75 and Older
Average
 Age-Adjusted
Rate		 Average
 Age-Specific
Rate		 Average
 Age-Specific
Rate		 Average
 Age-Specific
Rate
1998-2000 5,856.3 61.8 ±0.9   241.0 3.3 ±3.7   1,320.0 63.8 ±1.6   4,295.3 748.8 ±0.9  
1997-1999 5,835.0 62.4 ±0.9   246.3 3.4 ±3.7   1,347.7 65.9 ±1.6   4,241.0 750.8 ±0.9  
Note: The manner in which underlying cause of death is coded and classified was revised in 1999 to reflect changing medical opinon and practice. The comparability between classification schemes for this particular cause of death is lower (1.06), meaning that caution should be taken in drawing specific inferences from comparisons of mortality statistics over time.

Five-Year Moving Averages
Year All Ages Age Under 50 Age 50 - 74 Age 75 and Older
Average
 Age-Adjusted
Rate		 Average
 Age-Specific
Rate		 Average
 Age-Specific
Rate		 Average
 Age-Specific
Rate
1996-2000 5,808.4 62.4 ±0.7   247.0 3.4 ±2.8   1,337.4 65.7 ±1.2   4,224.0 752.0 ±0.7  
1995-1999 5,822.0 63.6 ±0.7   256.4 3.6 ±2.8   1,370.4 68.2 ±1.2   4,195.0 762.7 ±0.7  
Note: The manner in which underlying cause of death is coded and classified was revised in 1999 to reflect changing medical opinon and practice. The comparability between classification schemes for this particular cause of death is lower (1.06), meaning that caution should be taken in drawing specific inferences from comparisons of mortality statistics over time.

How does the DIDHD compare with Michigan and the U.S.?

Michigan's age-adjusted stroke rates are similar to the U.S. rates. Stroke was the third leading cause of all deaths in the U.S. and the sixth leading cause of YPLL in 1997. Dickinson County stroke rates are slightly higher than both state and national averages, while Iron County stroke rates are significantly higher than state and national averages.

How are different populations affected?

Incidence of strokes increases with age. In Michigan, 88 percent of stroke deaths occurred to individuals aged 65 or older in 1998. High blood pressure is a major risk factor for stroke and controlling high blood pressure can reduce the risk of stroke up to 50%. Michigan is ranked as 22nd worst in the nation for stroke mortality.

Although males have a higher risk of dying of stroke than females, the number of females dying of stroke is larger than males, because women live to older ages when stroke is most common.

What other information is important to know?

Stroke remains the leading cause of severe long-term disability. Controlling high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and reducing smoking will have the greatest effects on reducing stroke rates. Other risk factors include age, gender, family history, previous stroke and socioeconomic status. In the U.S., someone has a stroke every 53 seconds and every 3.3 minutes, someone dies of a stroke.

What are the Dickinson-Iron District Health Department and the Michigan Department of Community Health doing to affect this indicator?

The DIDHD is actively working to decrease the incidence and impact of stroke and heart disease. The department supports direct services to Michigan residents. Services include community awareness activities, media campaigns, and community health events such as the "Walking Program" and Project ACES - "All Children Exercising Simultaneously" and beginning in 2001, Youth Asset Celebrations that centered on a physical fitness day with 40 health stations highlighting 40 different assets and physical activities which was attended by over 300 residents. .In cooperation with the Governor's Council on Physical Fitness, Health and Sports and the Michigan Fitness Foundation, the department has sponsored the development and distribution of a model physical education curriculum for Dickinson and Iron County schools encouraging lifelong physical activity. The department also participates with work-site and community health promotion programs with the Wellness Council of the Upper Peninsula. The DIDHD Health Educator serves as administrator for the WELCUP organization.